Eleanor Anderson

Eleanor was born and raised in Gowrie, the beloved daughter of Beulah and Rudolf Pohl and sister to Maxine and Kenneth. A standout student at Gowrie High School, she graduated as valedictorian in 1947. Eleanor was also voted Miss Gowrie High, played the violin, and earned All-County honors in basketball, reflecting both her academic excellence and diverse talents.

She attended Iowa State Teachers' College (now the University of Northern Iowa) for two years before teaching fifth grade in Humboldt for three years. In 1952, she married her high school classmate, George Anderson. Shortly after, they embarked on a year-long adventure to Denmark, where she taught ESL to Copenhagen's streetcar conductors, while George, a Fulbright Scholar, pursued studies in political economics at the University of Copenhagen.

Eleanor returned to Iowa and spent a year teaching in Laurens before beginning a new chapter as a Navy wife and mother in California. When George joined the U.S. Foreign Service in 1957, she accompanied him to Copenhagen, followed by Washington, D.C., and then Norway. As their family grew to five children, Eleanor dedicated herself to raising and nurturing them, while also taking on the heavy social responsibilities of a diplomat's wife – hosting embassy dinner parties, organizing events, and managing frequent relocations with grace and resilience.

In late 1967, she returned to Gowrie with her five children, then ages 5 to 13, for two years while George served at the U.S. Embassy in Vietnam. During that time, she completed her bachelor's degree at Iowa State College, making the 50-mile drive each way three times a week, all while running the household and staying closely involved in her children's activities.

Later she taught fifth grade in Vienna, George's last diplomatic post, and in Brussels, where George managed the European affairs of several American manufacturing business firms While in Brussels, she also earned a master's degree in education from the University of Southern California's campus there.

In 1987, Eleanor and George returned to the United States and settled in Arizona, where Eleanor spent five fulfilling years teaching fifth grade in the Los Lomas district's talented and gifted program. Known for her calm demeanor, unwavering patience, and steady temperament, she left a lasting impression on many of her students, who fondly remember her as one of their best and most beloved teachers.

After retiring in 1997, Eleanor and George divided their time between their homes in Gowrie and South Carolina, embracing the joy of worldwide travel for several years. In their eighties, they chose to simplify their busy lives, settling permanently in Gowrie – a place where they had always maintained close connections with lifelong friends and family despite frequent moves. They remained deeply involved in their church and community until relocating to Friendship Haven in February 2025.

Eleanor passed away peacefully after a brief illness, surrounded by the love and warmth of her cherished family. She is survived by her husband of 73 years, George, and their five children – Travis (Victoria) of Louisville, KY; Miles (Leslie) of Minneapolis, MN; Greta (Charles) of Northfield, MN; Jon (Chris) of New York City; and Grant (Ines) of Tucson, AZ. She was a cherished grandmother to 15 grandchildren: Zoe (Rocky), Jared, Jake, Taylor (Alberto), Bryce (Hillary), Perry (Tristan), Dirk, Bram, Justin (Sarah), Mallory (Alexander), Brenna, Dylan, Liam, Gavin, and Waris. Eleanor's legacy also extends to seven great-grandchildren: Finnley, Blakely, Felix, Aiden, Riley, Frances, and Eleanor. She is also survived by her sister-in-law, Avis Pohl, along with many nieces and nephews.

A memorial service was Saturday, June 21, 2025, at United Methodist Church, Gowrie. Laufersweiler's Palmer & Sons Funeral Home of Gowrie is served the family.